AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22060, 16 September 1933, Page 11

AVIATION

HOME-MADE AEROPLANE , FLIGHT BY LETTISH OFFICER. PARIS, September 14. A Lettish officer named Cukuns is flying to Gambia (Africa) in a home-made aeroplane, whose engine he bought in an old iron market at Riga. It belonged to a British aeroplane that was shot down in 1916. He built the machine alone of wood, steel, and canvas, occupying four years. He flew from Riga to Paris without trouble, and then resumed his flight. ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA. SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH. AMSTERDAM, September 14. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith arrived by air from Budapest after testing a spores type aeroplane with a speed of 138 miles per hour. He is going to London to commence a solo flight to Australia. He is not seeking a record, but hopes to conclude the journey in 14 days. MR AND MRS MOLLISON. ATTACK ON DISTANCE RECORD. QUEBEC, September 14. Mr J; A. Mollison landed to-day en route to Toronto to join his wife. They will prepare plans for a new assault on the world’s distance record. He declared that conditions would permit them to start the journey by the end of the month, but they had not yet decided where they would start from. LAST SPECTACULAR VENTURE. MONTREAL, September 14. (Received Sept. 15, at 10.30 p.m.) On arrival here to-night Mr Mollison indicated that the proposed long-distance flight would probably be the last spectacular venture of this nature undertaken by them. He said: “ I have made six tough trips, including three across the Atlantic. That should bo enough, and Amy has had more than her share of danger. I don’t think we will try anything on this scale again.” He said the flight would commence as soon as possible after the equinoctial gales were over. Asked how far they were going, Mr Mollison replied, “As far as we can.” NEW GUINEA SEAPLANE SERVICE. SYDNEY, September 15. It is hoped, when a seaplane service is established in the mandated territory of New Guinea, that the Administration will be able to keep a closer watch on the movements of foreign ships engaged in poaching trochus shell and in other illegal actions in preserved waters. It will also enable the judge to hold sessions in other centres besides Rabaul, meaning a saving in expense to litigants.